Indian businessman joins Dubai Cares, offers edu bonanaza

Dubai, Oct 3 (UNI) A Dubai-based Indian businessman has offered to sponsor education of all poor 'expatriate students' of the government schools in the emirate.

Owner of Pure Gold Group of Companies Firoz Merchant submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Education, saying that he was willing to pay the fees of all expatriate students in the government schools whose parents were unable to meet their education expenses.

The ministry has issued a circular to all educational zones to list the names of the students who have not been able to pay the fees of 6,000 dirham so far.

''I arrived in the UAE in 1989 and started my gold business from a small shop at Morshid Bazaar in Dubai,'' Merchant was Khaleej Times as saying.

''By grace of God my business has grown and I own 40 stores in the UAE and other GCC countries,'' he added.

One part of the fund earmarked for charity this year would be given to the Ministry of Education and another totalling 500,000 dirhams to the Ministry of Health to provide treatment to patients who cannot afford health care, he elaborated.

The initiative follows Mr Merchant's meeting with officials of 'Dubai Cares' campaign launched by Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to help eradicate illiteracy among poor around the world.